There’s been a lot of talk surrounding a potential Jermaine Dupri and Diddy Verzuz battle, with tensions rising even before the contest has been confirmed. But according to Dupri, fans shouldn’t get their hopes up.
The So So Def hitmaker appeared on the latest episode of the New Rory & Mal podcast on Wednesday (January 5), where he shot down a match-up between him and Puff due to the performance element of the Verzuz series.
As JD points out, many of the Bad Boy mogul’s biggest songs are collaborations with other artists — including those who are either dead (The Notorious B.I.G.) or no longer on good terms with him (Ma$e) — which presents a problem.
When asked by Mal if the heavyweight bout will happen, Dupri replied, “I don’t think so… Because I feel like it’s a performance-based thing now and the majority of Puff’s records, who’s gonna perform?
“Yeah, [you can bring out] The LOX, but you can’t have nobody do Big’s verses!” he continued. “And I don’t know that Ma$e would come out with him no more, so I don’t think that it would happen based on that.”
Nevertheless, Jermaine Dupri stands firm on his belief that he can outlast Diddy in the Verzuz ring. Whereas Puff may struggle to get support from his former Bad Boy artists, JD’s stable of collaborators — which includes the likes of Usher, Bow Wow and Da Brat — are ready to rumble.
“All my people, we rockin’!” he said. “And we coming’ with a whole lot of energy!”
Dupri also believes So So Def’s discography would top Bad Boy’s catalog when it comes to longevity, pointing to Bow Wow and Mariah Carey’s success in the 2000s when Diddy’s once-dominant label began to dwindle.
“Puff — and anybody else that thinks about this battle — they try to downplay the Bow Wow era,” he said. “When we get into the 2001, 2002, 2003 era of So So Def, I don’t know that Bad Boy was even in existence… I never seen a Bad Boy record No. 1 on 106 & Park.”
He added, “[The] Emancipation of Mimi came out in 2007. People be forgetting about that whole little patch of records. I’m telling you, I don’t give a fuck what nobody say; Puff Daddy ain’t got nothing for 2007 — not on Bad Boy!”
Jermaine Dupri challenged Diddy to a Verzuz battle in September following Fat Joe and Ja Rule’s contest at New York’s Madison Square Garden, calling out the Harlem-bred hitmaker on Twitter.
Diddy swiftly dismissed JD’s offer, telling him, “Your arms too short to box with God” while reiterating his stance that Dr. Dre is his only worthy Verzuz opponent.
The pair later got into a shouting match on Instagram Live, with Puff playing snippets of some of his biggest records while taunting Dupri by asking him, “What are you going to do when [Biggie’s] ‘One More Chance’ drops?”
Jermaine Dupri Flexes The One Thing Diddy Can't Buy As Verzuz Debate Continues
Jermaine Dupri fired back at Diddy during a visit to Atlanta’s V-103 radio station by flexing his status as a Hall of Fame Songwriter, an honor Puff has yet to add to his trophy collection.
“I am in the Songwriters Hall of Fame,” he boasted. “Puff Daddy’s not in the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Steve Stoute and the Trackmasters are not in the Hall of Fame… I shouldn’t have to play nothing. I am in a seat that Puff Daddy can’t pay for.”
Finally, Someone has the gall to say it. Diddy is a fraud. Always has been and will be.
I don’t think anyone really thought Puff wrote his own lyrics, produced his own songs, or anything like that. He’s a name brand on a song, that’s it. He’s DJ Khalid, but skinny.
And much much more gayer and a crooked executive producer.
Facts, Diddy is the OG Khaled. Just Diddy had his own label, but it’s the same formula. “Hey guys, sample Diana Ross for me, let’s get Mase and BIG on there, oh yeah, and write something for me too cause I want to be on the song, I’ll be back tomorrow, get it done”.
Not true, Diddy could do a Verzuz against Fab Morvan from Milli Vanilli. (That’s a fair and accurate battle for him)
Ask these years later and y’all are still trying to hate Bad Boy to death. ?? Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Ever.
It’s not hate when it’s proven fact though. Diddy is just a talentless opportunist who took advantage of his clients situation financially, naiveness and lack of knowledge of how the industry worked. You know what that makes him, The Gay Hip Hop Version of Harvey Weinstein. None of the previous artists that were signed to Bad Boy are eating right now outside of The Lox and that’s cuz they were smart enough to get out when they (Styles P) saw Diddy creeping up from behind cause he thought he was sleeping (and threw a chair at him in the studio then demanded to be let off of Bad Boy Records.) That actually happened by the way.
Yeah, Can’t Stop R***** N***** A**** lol
Both Financially and Sexually
How cute, you liked your own comments.
I’ll come out of the closet when Diddy does. Facts.
Kinda funny when Da Brat ghostwrote most of JD and Bow Wow’s material
What’s even funnier is that JD wrote Da Brat’s entire first album, Funkdafied, which is her best-selling and BEST album.
JD didn’t write no lyrics for the Da Brat. He may have wrote a hook or two but let’s not act like Da Brat has a ghostwriter
The only song she doesn’t have writing credits on is Funkdafied.
JD needs the money, he can say whatever. He ain’t getting any help from Diddy though. JD better target another mogul to cut a good deal. The hate is real, and one-sided.
Haha on the contrary JD is getting that yogurt business money with his own self created, self branded JD’Vegan Ice Cream. That he got a distribution deal with Walmart to sell the product in every chain around the country. Jermaine ain’t hurting as you think
Most things written here are black-on-black crimes/wishful thinking, as usual, and not supported by facts. Lots of guys considered Diddy below average on so many themes. Yet not many of them replicate his moves? He bucked the tends on all of them.
With utmost respect, JD monies are below Diddy monies, and defo not Diddy ROI. There are levels to this.
My opinions must have really hurt someones feelings on here. There seems to be this thing that when someones scared to debate you, they post with your screen name and say gay shit. I dont really get it. I guess its a Gen Z thing. Whatever. On topic, when did performing live ever become a rule in verzuz ? Half of them were done online from rappers basements pressing play on MP3s. Now its a concert after Gucci and Jeezy happened at a club ? I think JD and Diddy makes sense. Two executive producers that rap on over their artists shit. But if they are battling as producers then they dont need to perform. Verzuz is so fucking stupid anyways. I equate it to starring on Love and Hip Hop. Its like an exhibition boxing match for older rappers who arent confident to compete with younger rappers in album sales. I dont see Eminem doing that shit cuz he would rather be in the studio dropping new shit.
It wasn’t Jeezy v Gucci that changed the game, it was Beenie Man vs Buju that did it, when they introduced the clash format. That’s how they been doing in Jamaica. After that, VZ was never the same and them 2 dudes deserve the credit for that.
It was Bounty Killa, not Buju. But yeah they set it off so people had to perform after that
JD is RIGHT!!!! And already WON!!!!!